Foldable decorative structure with reenforcing members

ABSTRACT

A decorative assembly which in the preferred embodiment constitutes a wreath having either real or simulated foliage mechanically joined to a frame or support member which is preferably annular in shape. The nature of the support member is such as to be substantially rigid. Diametrically opposed portions of the support member are of substantially reduced thickness as compared with the remainder of the support member to enable the decorative assembly to be folded in half thereby significantly reducing the volume which the wreath occupies in the stored condition. A pair of bracing members are integrally joined with the support member by means of bendable ribs positioned adjacent the diametric portions of reduced thickness. Cooperating projections and openings are provided as between the support member and the reenforcing members to enable the support members to span each of the reduced thickness portions of the support member and to be force-fittingly joined to the support member causing the decorative assembly to retain its normal shape and to counteract any bending.

United States Patent [191 Kinderman et al.

[ June 25, 1974 FOLDABLE DECORATIVE STRUCTURE WITH REENFORCING MEMBERS [73] Assignee: Brite Star Manufacturing Company,

Inc., Philadelphia, Pa.

22 Filed: Mar. 16, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 235,243

[52] US. Cl 161/15, 161/17, 161/31, 248/278 [51] Int. Cl A41g l/00 [58] Field of Search 47/41.l2; 93/15; 161/14, 161/15, 17, 27, 31; 248/278; 287/54 C; 285/373, 419; 52/71 Primary Examiner-George F. Lesmes Assistant Examiner-Henry F. Epstein Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ostrolenk, Faber, Gerb &

Soffen 5 7] ABSTRACT A decorative assembly which in the preferred embodiment constitutes a wreath having either real or simulated foliage mechanically joined to a frame or support member which is preferably annular in shape. The nature of the support member is such as to be substantially rigid. Diametrically opposed portions of the support member are of substantially reduced thickness as compared with the remainder of the support member to enable the decorative assembly to be folded in half thereby significantly reducing the volume which the wreath occupies in the stored condition. A pair of bracing members are integrally joined with the support member by means of bendable ribs positioned adjacent the diametric portions of reduced thickness. Cooperating projections and openings are provided as between the support member and the reenforcing members to enable the support members to span each of the reduced thickness portions of the support member and to be force-fittingly joined to the support member causing the decorative assembly to retain its normal shape and to counteract any bending.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures F OLDABLE DECORATIVE STRUCTURE WITH REENFORCING MEMBERS The present invention relates to decorative devices and more particularly to a novel support assembly for decorative devices such as wreaths and the like in which the support assembly is rendered foldable to significantly reduce the space which it occupies in storage and transportation and in which means are provided for maintaining the decorative support assembly in its unfolded state when employed for its intended decorative purpose.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Decorative assemblies find widespread use for festive occasions and holidays and may assume a wide variety of arrangements. One typical decorative assembly is the wreath which typically is annular in shape and is conventionally comprised of clusters of leaves and/or flowers as well as other decorative elements arranged in an annular fashion upon a suitable annular support.

Whereas such decorative wreaths have been typically comprised of live or fresh flowers and/or leaves, it has become extremely advantagous in the present state of the art to utilize simulated leaf and/or floral structures formed of a plastic material whose color and configuration remarkably resemble live or fresh floral members.

Typical state of the art decorative wreaths are comprised of an annular shaped member having plurality of either plastic or live flowers and/or leaves secured to the support ring at spaced intervals therealong to form an aesthetically pleasing wreath. An eyelet or other member is typically provided for hanging the wreath from a hook, string or other support. The cost of producing such artificial wreaths has been so significantly reduced through the advent of plastics and manufacturing technology and techniques that the cost of crating and shipping has become one of the most significant factors in the production and sale of such decorative wreaths. Thus, in spite of the fact that manufacturing and assembly costs have contributed to the development of a relatively low cost decorative wreath, the cost of manufacturing and marketing such wreaths have nevetheless grown as a result of labor and other service costs involved in crating and shipping such wreaths which tend to significantly increase the overall selling costs.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention is characterized by providing a novel decorative wreath assembly comprised of an annular support member which is designed so as to be capable of being easily folded in half to reduce the volume or space occupied by such a decorative wreath'by approximately one-half the space occupied by conventain and maintain a substantially planar shape. Diametrically opposed portions of the annular shaped member are provided with significantly reduced thicknesses so as to render the support member foldable enabling it to thereby be bent in half so as to significantly reduce the space which it occupies within a carton or other shipping container. A pair of selectively insertable bracing members are preferably flexibly joined to the annular support member at the aforesaid diametrically opposed positions with the bracing members being provided with either apertures or projections for cooperating respectively with either projections or .apertures provided within the annular ring on opposite sides of the sections of reduced thickness so as to enable th bracing members to be force-fittingly joined to the annular support member, to span the portions of reduced thickness therealong and to maintain the support member in a planar shape, i.e., to prevent the support member from bending, when in use. The bracing members are preferably joined to the support member by means of one or more flexible straps so as to maintain the bracing members in close proximity to the sections of the support member which they are adapted to force fittingly join and to permit the decorative wreath to again be folded in half for subsequent storage after use thereof. Alternatively, the bracing members may be totally disengaged from the support member if desired or, may may be joined thereto by any other flexible support means such as a thin wire, a piece of string and the like. The support member may also be provided with an eyelet for hanging or otherwise suspending the decorative wreath at any desired location or upon any desired mounting surface. In one preferred embodiment, the support member, the diametrically opposed sections of reduced thickness, the bracing members and their flexible joining means as well as the eyelet may all be formed through a single molding operation so as to provide a support member of simplicity in design and which is of significantly reduced cost as compared with conventional structures.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a novel support member for decorative devices and the like for mounting decorative members thereto and which is provided with diametrically opposed sections of reduced thickness or increased resiliency to facilitate folding of the support member.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel support assembly for decorative leaves and the like wherein the support assembly is provided with diametrically opposed sections thereof having either reduced thickness or increased resiliency to facilitate folding thereof and which is further provided with bracing members spanning the aforesaid diametrically opposed sections to maintain the support member in planar fashion during use of the decorative device.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES The above as well as other objects of the present invention will become apparent when reading the accom panying description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of adecorative assembly designed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is perspective exploded view of the support member shown in FIG. 1 andofone floral unit showing the manner in which a floral unit may be mounted thereto as well as showing the foldable or bendable portions of the support member.

FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b show sectional views of the support member of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of arrows 2a-2a and 2b2b, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 shows a decorative wreath designed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The wreath 10 of FIG. 1 is generally annular in shape and is provided with a plurality of flowers and/or leaf clusters which are preferably formed of a suitable plastic material so as to remarkably simulate living flowers and leaves. As one example, the decorative wreath 10 of FIG. 1 contains a unit 11 comprised of a poinsettia 12 set within two clusters 13 and 14 of leaf arrangements each containing three leaves simulating those of a holly tree. The remaining clusters in the wreath intertwine with the above mentioned cluster in such a manneras to make it difficult to distinguish one cluster from the other as well as acting to obscure the mounting assembly upon which such clusters are secured.

FIGS. 2, 2a and 2b show the mounting assembly of the wreath of FIG. 1 in greater detail, which assembly is comprised of a generally annular shaped frame or support member 15 having a cross-sectional configuration as shown best in FIG. 2b. The upper exposed surface 15a is generally flat and is provided with a plurality of upwardly extending projections 16 arranged at spaced intervals along surface 15a. The underside (note especially FIG. 2b) is provided with two rounded portions 15b and 15c so as to provide support member 15 with a thickness sufficient to prevent it from being severely or sharply bent or folded as opposed to being slightly bowed. The plastic material from which the support member 15 is formed is preferably semi-rigid, i.e. somewhat resilient so as to permit the member to be slightly bowed, but prevent it from being sharply bent, folded or creased.

Two diametrically opposed portions of ring 15, namely portions 15d and 15e are machined or otherwise formed so as to have a reduced thickness t serving as intergral hinge means as compared with the thickness T of the remaining portion of the support member (note especially FIG. 2a). Immediately adjacent the reduced thickness portions 15a and 15e there is provided an aperture 17 on each side thereof for a purpose to be more fully described.

The support member is further comprised of a pair of reenforcing members 18 and 19 each being joined to support member 15 by a pair of relatively thin flexible strips 20 and 21, respectively. Each of these strips is provided with a pair of projections l8a-l8b and 19a19b, respectively, for being force-fittingly received by apertures 17,17 and 17,17, respectively, which are arranged at the diametrically opposed sections of reduced thickness.

As shown best in FIG. 2 each of the projections 16 is adapted to force-fittingly receive one of the floral arid/or leaf clusters of the type shown in FIG. 1. For example, a typical leaf cluster 23 is shown in FIG. 2 as being comprised of a hollow tubular portion 24 for being telescoped upon projection 16. Cluster 23 is shown relative to projection 16 in exploded view fashion to facilitate an understanding thereof. A pair of bracing ribs 25a and 25b are integrally joined to hollow tubular portion 24 so as to join an arcuate shaped portion 26 thereto. Arcuate shaped portion 26 is provided with a pair of upwardly extending projections 27 and 28 each having an arrow headed termination 27a and 27b, respectively. Mounted to each of these projections is a holly leaf and evergreen sprig cluster 29 (only one such cluster is shown in FIG. 2 for purposes of simplicity) which holly leaves 29a-29c and evergreen sprigs 30a-30c are arranged somewhat in triangular fashion and are provided with a central opening 31 for being force-fitted upon projection 28. The arrow headed termination 27b facilitates force-fitting of leaf assembly 29 thereon due to its flexible resilient characteristic. However, the arrow headed portion prevents the leaf assembly 29, once mounted thereon, from being easily removed therefrom due to the abutting shoulder portions 27c and 27d of the arrow headed termination. Whereas the cluster 29 described herein is comprised of holly leaves and evergreen sprigs, it should be understood that the actual cluster may be any flower or leaf or combination thereof or may be another decorative member such as a decorative bow, ribbon, star or other ornament.

Assemblies similar to the assembly 23 may be mounted in like fashion to each of the remaining projections 16 provided around supporting member 15, by force-fitting their tubular shaped portions (note tubular shaped portion 24) telescopically upon one of the associated projections 16. It should be obvious that an alternative arrangement may be employed wherein the hollow tubular shaped member 24 may be either solid or hollow and be adapted so as to force-fit within an aperture provided in ring member 15 in place of the projections 16.

After all of the leaf and/or floral clusters are mounted upon ring 15, the support ring may be folded in half along an imaginary line L (see FIG. 2) with the halves of the ring being bent about line L so as to move the undersides of the ring toward one another in the manner shown by arrows 33 and 34 in FIG. 2a until the halves of the support ring effectively touch one another as shown by dotted line member 15 of FIG. 2. The folding of the support ring in half is made possible through the use of the sections 15d and 15e of substantially reduced thickness t to enable the support ring to readily and easily fold in half. In this state, the completed decorative wreaths may be packaged within any suitable shipping containers or boxes whereby they occupy a substantially reduced volume as compared with conventional wreaths which are not capable of being folded.

Alternatively, in place of the sections 15d and l5e of reduced thickness, the support ring 15 may be provided with sections 15d and 15e formed of a material which is of substantially greater resiliency than the remainder of the ring 15 so as to enhance its folding capability.

The decorative wreaths, when ready for use, may simply be unfolded and laid flat. Thereupon, the bracing members 18 and 19 are revolved relative to support member 15 (note especially FIG. 2b) by moving the bracing members in a direction shown by arrow 35 so as to move the bracing members in a position whereby they each span their respective sections of reduced thickness. The projections 18a-18b and l9a19b provided thereon are force-fittingly inserted into the associated opening 17,17 on opposite sides of the sections of reduced thickness. The bracing members 18 and 19 serve to significantly reenforce the sections d and 15e of reduced thickness so as to cause the supporting ring 15 to resist severe bending. The short mounting clips and 21 are preferably so thin as to permit their being bent with relative ease so as to move the reenforcing members into the spanning position (note member 19 shown in dotted fashion in FIGS. 2a and 21)).

If desired, the wreath, after use, may be stored in the folded condition simply by removing the projections of bracing members 18 and 19 from their cooperating apertures 17. It should further be obvious that a reversal of components is possible whereupon the bracing member 18 may be provided with apertures in place of the projections 18a and 18b, for example, and the apertures 17,17 spanning the section 15d of reduced thickness may be replaced by projections of the type shown as 18a and 18b with this alternative arrangement being usabel with equal success to that shown in the Figures.

Support ring 15 may further be provided with an eyelet member 36 for mounting or suspending the wreath upon a hook, string, nail or other like support. Alternatively, the support may take the form of a loop of string or wire positioned around a portion of ring 15 for suspension upon a suitable support member.

In the preferred embodiment, the ring 15 joining webs 20 and 21, bracing members 18 and 19, sections of reduced thickness 15d and 15e, projections 16 and eyelet 36 may all be formed in a single molding operation so as to significantly reduce manufacturing costs for the support ring. This is also true in the case where the sections of reduced thickness 15d and 15e are replaced with sections of significantly increased resiliency as compared with the remaining portion of ring 15. This may be done by forming the ring assembly in a mold and providing a first suitable plastic material of higher rigidity within the mold in all reasons except for sections 15d and 152 and providing a plastic or rubber material of significantly increased resiliency as compared with the first plastic material and which is capable of fusing with the first plastic material when formed in the mold.

As another alternative arrangement, the reenforcing members 18 and 19 may be joined to ring 15 by a single web member or alternatively may be joined thereto by a piece of string, thin wire, adhesive tape or the like or may simply be packaged within a container completely disengaged from ring 15, if desired.

It can be seen from the foregoing description that the present invention provides a novel support assembly for decorative wreaths and the like which is capble of being folded in half during shipment or storage thereof and which is provided with reenforcing members for retaining the support member in a generally planar configuration when the decorative assembly is in use.

It should be noted that the invention has been shown in connection with a preferred embodiment and that many variations and modifications will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is to be limited, not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appending claims. For example, ring 15 need not be annular in shape, but may be square, hexagonal, polygonal or any other closed loop form. Also,

the floral arrangements secured thereto need not be artificial but may be live or fresh flowers and leaves or any combination of live or fresh flowers and leaves and artificial members which may be joined to the closed loop support member 15 either by the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 or by securing the floral or wreath arrangement by means of thin workable wires or strings.

What is claimed is:

l. A mounting structure for decorative wreaths and the like comprising:

a closed loop annular frame member formed of a plastic material having a thickness sufficient to prevent said frame from being sharply folded while permitting said frame to be slightly bowed under pressure, said plastic material being characterized in that it is adapted to maintain said frame in planar configuration;

integral hinge means having a thinner cross-section than said frame member provided at a pair of diametrically opposed portions of said frame member having a resiliency adapted to permit said hinge means to assume an arcuate configuration enabling said frame member to be folded substantially in half and to be subsequently unfolded without affecting the bending modulus of said hinge means;

a plurality of decorative units; and

means for joining said decorative units to said frame to form an aesthetically appealing decorative assembly;

a pair of bracing members integrally joined to said frame member by flexible strap means and each adapted to span across an associated one of said hinge means;

means for releaseably force-fittingly joining said bracing members to said frame member to prevent said frame member from being folded when said bracing members are joined to said frame member.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said joining means is comprised of a pair of projections provided at spaced intervals along each bracing member;

said frame member having cooperating apertures on opposite sides of said hinge means for forcefittingly receiving associated ones of said projections.

3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said joining means is comprised of a pair of projections provided on opposite sides of said bracing means;

said frame member having cooperating apertures for force-fittingly receiving associated ones of said projections.

4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said integral hinge means are each comprised of sections of said frame member which are of substantially greater resiliency relative to the remainder of said frame member to facilitate folding of said frame member.

5. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of said means for joining floral units to said frame member comprises a tubular projection, said frame member being provided with a plurality of projections for forcefittingly receiving an associated one of said tubular projections.

6. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of said means for joining floral units to said frame member comprises a projection, said frame member being provided with a plurality of apertures for force-fittingly receiving an associated one of said projections. 

1. A mounting structure for decorative wreaths and the like comprising: a closed loop annular frame member formed of a plastic material having a thickness sufficient to prevent said frame from being sharply folded while permitting said frame to be slightly bowed under pressure, said plastic material being characterized in that it is adapted to maintain said frame in planar configuration; integral hinge means having a thinner cross-section than said frame member provided at a pair of diametrically opposed portions of said frame member having a resiliency adapted to permit said hinge means to assume an arcuate configuration enabling said frame member to be folded substanTially in half and to be subsequently unfolded without affecting the bending modulus of said hinge means; a plurality of decorative units; and means for joining said decorative units to said frame to form an aesthetically appealing decorative assembly; a pair of bracing members integrally joined to said frame member by flexible strap means and each adapted to span across an associated one of said hinge means; means for releaseably force-fittingly joining said bracing members to said frame member to prevent said frame member from being folded when said bracing members are joined to said frame member.
 2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said joining means is comprised of a pair of projections provided at spaced intervals along each bracing member; said frame member having cooperating apertures on opposite sides of said hinge means for force-fittingly receiving associated ones of said projections.
 3. The structure of claim 1 wherein said joining means is comprised of a pair of projections provided on opposite sides of said bracing means; said frame member having cooperating apertures for force-fittingly receiving associated ones of said projections.
 4. The structure of claim 1 wherein said integral hinge means are each comprised of sections of said frame member which are of substantially greater resiliency relative to the remainder of said frame member to facilitate folding of said frame member.
 5. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of said means for joining floral units to said frame member comprises a tubular projection, said frame member being provided with a plurality of projections for force-fittingly receiving an associated one of said tubular projections.
 6. The structure of claim 1 wherein each of said means for joining floral units to said frame member comprises a projection, said frame member being provided with a plurality of apertures for force-fittingly receiving an associated one of said projections. 